Saint Ashton cited

Northampton and England winger Chris Ashton has been cited by the RFU for an act contrary to good sportsmanship.

England international to attend disciplinary hearing on Tuesday

The Rugby Football Union has announced that Northampton winger Chris Ashton has been cited for an act contrary to good sportsmanship. The England international will face an RFU disciplinary hearing in London on Tuesday after being reported by citing officer Mike Rafter. The complaint is that Ashton pulled Leicester wing Alesana Tuilagi by his hair and dragged him from the field of play during his side's Aviva Premiership defeat against the Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday. The incident sparked a brawl between the two sets of players that resulted in Tuilagi and Northampton's Tom Wood being shown red cards. Both playerswere dismissed by referee Wayne Barnes for striking - they will also appear before the RFU disciplinary chiefs on Tuesday. It will be a busy day for Northampton, as back-rower Phil Dowson had already been cited for a dangerous tackle on Saracens back Alex Goode in a Premiership game at Franklin's Gardens nine days ago. It means Ashton, Wood and Dowson could all now banned for a key part of the club's season, starting with a crucial away trip to French club Castres in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The RFU hearing will be chaired by Twickenham disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett, assisted by Jeremy Summers and Christopher Quinlan QC.